Andrew weiss



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A. WEISS. WASHBOARD.

No. 556,569. Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

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(No Modem Patented Mar. 1.17, 1896.

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WM wwm I l I l I I I l l I I 1 l 1 ll hung AN DREW B GRAHAMJHOTDUTHU WASHINGTDNJIH)v UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

ANDREIV \VEISS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN IVASI'IBOARD COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

WASHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 556,569, dated March 17, 1896.

Application filed February 26,1895. Serial No. 539,735. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW WEISS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio,have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in IVashboards, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described. herein relates to certain improvements in washboards, and has for its object the provision of a protector not only for the person of the operator, but also for the soap, so as to prevent the wasting of the latter consequent on being kept saturated while resting on the cross-bar at the head of the rubbing-faces.

It is old in the art of washboard-making to provide a soap-receptacle, sometimes called a soap-box, consisting of the fixed cross-bar intermediate between the upper end of the rubbing face and the lower end of a fixed brand-board, forming more properly a ledge upon which the soap is supported when not in use. It is also old to provide a pivoted shelf immediately above the cross-bar for the same purpose, the shelf being so pivoted that it may be folded up against the fixed brandboard for convenience in storage and transportation of the washboards. In all of these constructions the soap is in no way protected from the water splashed up in the washing operation, but is located in such proximity to the rubbing face as to be subjected to constant Waste by the flow of water over it; and, further, none of these soap-supports are capable of serving as a protector of the clothes of the operator during the washing operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide an integral structure which will serve as a receptacle for the soap, and also when in use as a protector to the clothes of the operator.

In general terms, the invention consists in the construction and combination substantially as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a double-faced washboard embodying my improvement, the plane of section being indicated by the line I I, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is atransverse section of the same, the plane of section being indicated by the line II II, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the application of my invention to a single-faced washboard, the plane of section being indicated by the line III III, Fig. 4. Fig. at is a transverse section on the line IV IV, Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional elevations,the planes of section of said figures being respectively in the lines V V, Fig. 6, and VI VI, Fig. 5. These views illustrate a modification in the construction of the stop for limiting the movement of the soap-box, and also in the manner of mounting the soap-boxes in the frame. Figs. 7 and S are views similar to Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, the planes of sections of said figures being respectively indicated by the lines VII VII of Fig. 8 and VIII VIII of Fig. 7, said views illustrating a modification in the manner of mounting the soap-boxes in the frame. Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation, the plane of section being indicated by the lines IX IX, Fig. 10; and Fig. 10 is a transverse section, the plane of section being indicated by the line X X, Fig. 9. Said views illustrate acertain modification in the construction of the soap-box. Fig. 11 is a transverse section of a washboard having my improved soap-box applied thereto and illustrates a modification in the stops for limiting the movements of box. Fig. 12 is a transverse section, the plane of section being indicated by the line XII XII, Fig. 13; and Fig. 13 is a horizontal section whose plane is indicated by the line XIII XIII, Fig. 12, said views illustrating, among other things, a modification of the invention wherein the soap-box has a laterallysliding movement. Fig. 14: is a transverse section of a washboard having a horizontal sliding soap-box, illustrating certain modifications in the stops and devices for holding the soap-boxes in position. Fig. 15 is an end elevation of a soap box or receptacle wherein the sides of the box are secured directly one to the other at the lower edge or side of the boxes.

I11 the practice of my invention the washboard, as regards the head-piece 1, cross-bar 2, side bars 3, and rubbing face or faces 4, is constructed in the usual or any suitable manner. In the space between the head-piece and cross-bar is mounted the soap box 01' receptacle, consisting of the sides 5 5, end pieces 6, and a supporting shaft or block 7, which is provided at its end with trunnions 8, adapted to fit in sockets 9, formed in the inner faces of the side bars. It is preferred to form the sides 5 5 so as to fill while free to move through the opening between the head-piece, side bars and cross-bar, and the sides are inclined slightly toward each other in order that they may assume proper position with relation to the other parts of the washboard when in position for use-i. e., the side 5-at a suitable angle above the rubbing-face, so that it will serve as a protector, and the side 5 filling the space between the head-piece and cross-bar and serving as a brand-board when the box is adjusted for use above one of the rubbing-faces, but reversed functions when the box is over the other face.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1-3 and 1 1 the soap receptacle or box is so mounted as to be capable of being shifted from a position of use above one of the rubbing-faces to a corresponding position above the other face, and hence the side 5 will in one position of the soap-receptacle serve as a protector and in the other position as a brand-board, while, in the same positions of the soap-receptacle, the side 5 will serve as a brand-board and protector, respectively.

In order to hold the soap box or receptacle in operative position suitable locks are provided. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 this look consists of one end of the sides 5 5 extended beyond the end piece 6 so as to engage suitably-arranged grooves 10 in the inner face of one of the side bars. The soap-receptacle is shifted longitudinally, so that these projecting ends of the sides 5 and 5 will engage the grooves by means of springs 11, surrounding one of the trunnions 8 of the soap-receptacle, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the locks consist of beads or ribs 12, formed along the lower edges of the head-piece, and the sides 5 and 5 are made sufficiently wide to engage the inner faces of these ribs. In older to insure the engagement of the laterally-extended sides 5 5 with the ribs 12, the

receptacle is yieldingly held, so that the end pieces of the receptacle will bear against the head-piece by means of springs 13 arranged below the trunnions 8, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, or, and as is preferred, abearingpiece 14 may be arranged below the shaft or block 7, a spring 15 being interposed between this block and the cross-bar, as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In order to prevent an accidental displacement of the soap-receptacle from operative position, shallow notches a. are formed in the end pieces 6 of the soapreceptacle adjacent to the sides 5 5, into which the ribs on the head-piece will project and are yieldingly held by the springs as soon as the soap-receptacle reaches the proper position for use.

In the construction shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11 the means employed for holding the soap-receptacle in operative position consist of stops 16, arranged on opposite sides of the head-piece so as to engage the sides 5 5 when shifted,said sides being provided with notches 17 at diagonal corners, so as to permit one of the sides being shifted by one of the stops, so that the opposite side will engage the other stop. In order to prevent an accidental return movement of the receptacle, rounded knobs or blocks 18 are arranged on one end of the soap-receptacle, which is forced longitudinally by spring 19 around one of the trunnions, so that the knobs or blocks 18 will project slightly beyond the inner face of the side bar or rub against the same with sufficient friction to prevent a return movement of the receptacle.

In order that the soap contained in the receptacle applied to single-faced washboards should be readily accessible and also that the receptacle should not project so far beyond the side bars as to render it liable to be broken in shipping, provision is made in applying the invention to a single-faced washboard for rendering the soap-receptacle freely accessible when the latter is in position for use and at the same time permit of such a folding movement of the receptacle that its outer corner will not project beyond the side bars a greater distance than the width of such bars, thereby rendering it possible to compactly arrange a number of the washboards embodying my invention for shipment without exposing the soap-receptacle to injury, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4:, '7, and 8.

In order to hold the soap-receptacle open to a full capacity and in position for protector use, locks similar to those shown and described in Figs. 1 and 2 may be employed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or a construction of lock similar to that shown and described in connection with Figs. 5 and 6 may be used, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

In order to shift the soap box or receptacle t locked position a flat spring 15 (shown in Figs. 7 and 8) may be substituted for the spiral springs (shown in Figs. and 6) for effecting the same movement.

\Vhile preferring to use a pivotally-mounted soap-receptacle, constructions similar to those shown in Figs. 12, 13, and 14 may be used. In these embodiments of my invention the soap-receptacle is made rectangular or approximately so in horizontal section and is arranged to slide laterally back and forth in the space between the head piece and crossbars. It is preferred to form the soap-receptacle with a projecting ledge 20 along the ends thereof adapted to enter the grooves formed in the inner face of the sidebars, as clearly shown in Fig. 13. In order to prevent the removal of the soap-receptacle, the sides of the box are made of such a height as to engage shoulders 21 on the head-piece, and the projecting ledges 20 are provided with shoulders 22, which will engage the edges of the side bars at the same time that the sides of the box engage the shoulders 21. In lieu of this construction a centrally-arranged stop 23 may be attached to the under side of the head-piece in such manner as to engage the sides of the box, and a spring 24, .provided with upwardly-curved ends, may be so arranged on the cross-bar as to engage the edges of the bottom when the box is shifted to either operative position, as clearly shown in Fig. 13.

While preferring to construct the forms of soap-receptac1e shown in Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive, with the lower edges of the sides 5 and 5 attached to a shaft or block 7, for the reason that such construction is more rigid and du rable, such shaft or block may be omitted, in which case the trunnions will be attached or formed on the end pieces 6, as shown in Fig. 15.

In order to prevent an accumulation of water in the soap-boxes, the latter are provided with drainage-openings 25, or,if desired, a movable plate or strip 26 may be arranged in the soap-receptacles a short distance above the bottoms of the same, which will serve as supports for the soap and hold the same out of any water which may collect in the receptacle.

It is characteristic of my improvement that one side or wall of the soap-receptacle will serve when the latter is in position above the rubbing-face as a protector to prevent water from splashing upon the soap as well as the person of the operator, and this feature-1'. e. the utilization of one side or wall of the soapreceptable as a double protectoris, as I now believe, entirely new in the art.

By the term integrally made or integral, as herein applied to soap boxes or receptacles, is meant a box having all its parts so inseparably connected or united as to be movable in unison, as distinguished from a box having one or more of its parts attachable or adjustable with relation to the other parts.

I claim herein as my invention 1. In combination with a washboard, an in-- tegrallymade soap box or receptacle having the portion which supports the soap adapted to operate as a protector for the soap and the clothes of the operator, said box or receptacle being suitably connected to the washboardframe, and properly mounted between the side bars and beneath the cap-piece, and shiftable through the space so formed to and from position of use without being necessarily detached from the frame for the purpose of such movement, substantially as set forth.

2. A washboard having in combination therewith an integrally-made soap box or receptacle having the portion which supports the soap adapted-to operate as a protector for the soap and the clothes of the operator, and movably mounted so as to be shifted to and from position of protector use, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with a washboard, an integrally-made soap box or receptacle having the portion which supports the soap adapted tooperate as a protector for the soap and the clothes of the operator, said box or receptacle being pivotally mounted in connection with the washboard-frame in manner substantially as described, whereby, turning on its bearings, it may be swung or vibrated from one position to another, either of use or of rest, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with awashboard, an integrally-made soap box or receptacle having one side thereof adapted to support the soap and of sufficient vertical height to form a protector for the soap and the clothes of the operator, pivotally mounted in connection with the washboard-frame in manner substantially as described, whereby, turning on its bearings, it may be swung or vibrated from and to a position of protector use.

5. In combination with a washboard, an integrally-made soap box or receptacle having the sides thereof adapted to support the soap and of suflicient vertical height to form on one side a protector for the soap and the clothes of the operator, and on the other side a brandboard, pivotally mounted in connection with the washboard frame, in manner substantially as described, whereby, turning on its bearings, it may be swung or vibrated between the side bars and between the cap-piece from one position to another for either use or rest.

6. In combination with a double faced washboard, an integrally-made soap box or receptacle, protector and brand-board pivotally mounted in connection with the washboard-frame, and having a sufficient range of swinging or vibratory action within or on said frame, whereby the opposite sides of the soap box or receptacle can alternately act as soap-supports-and protectors for the soap and the clothes of the operator, as shifted from one position of use to the reverse position of pse, substantially as set forth.

7. In combination with a washboard, an integrally-made soap box or receptacle having the portion which supports the soap adapted to operate as a protector for the soap and the clothes of the operator, movably connected to the washboard frame, whereby it may be shifted from a position of use through the opening between the side bars above the rubbing-face and a stop for holding it in such position, substantially as set forth.

8. In combination with awashboard, a soap box or receptacle having the portion which supports the soap adapted to operate as aprotector for the soap and the clothes of the operator, pivotally mounted in connection with the washboard-frame in manner substantially as described, whereby, turning on its bearings, it may be swung or vibrated from one position to another for use or rest, a lock for holding it in such position of use and a spring for causing the engagement of the parts of said lock, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 10 my hand.

' ANDREW WEISS.

WVitnesses J. M. GORHAM, I. II. LocKWooD, Jr. 

